Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION O CAPTAIN BARKER, interstellar flight had long lost any thrill it. might once have had. It was too much like driving a bus with its predicted stops, regular flights and long months of boring routine between planet- falls. The procedure was always the same. A moment of strain as the ship snapped out of hyper-drive, an indes- cribable wrenching and a brief nausea as the familiar stars replaced the swirling rainbow patterns on the screens, then the ship would swing into matching orbital velocity with the target planet, contact made, the business done, and they would be ‘on their way again. He sighed as he leaned back from the control panel, staring idly at the mottled green- brown-blue ball seeming to hang motionless below them, and nodded towards the one man who, technically, had no right at all to be in the control room. “Well, commander, there she is. Hyperon, second planet of Procyon. A nice new Earth- type world suitable for habita- tion and exploitation and your future home.” Williams ignored the elderly captain’s remarks, his eyes gleaming as he stared at the glowing screen. ‘““When do we land ?” ““We don’t. The ship doesn’t, that is. We'll drop you and your people by auxiliary.”’ Barker twisted his head and stared at the radio operator. ‘““Made contact yet?” “Not yet, sir.’’ “No?” Barker frowned. “That’s odd. Keep trying and let me know immediately they answer.” TV CS, SER: ““They’re probably asleep,” said Barker, and smiled at the expression on the young man’s face. ““Don’t forget, Williams, it’s been ten years since a ship called here last. You can hardly expect them to main- tain a continuous radio- watch.”’ “Why not?” Williams made no attempt to disguise his impatience. “The manual comicloooks.comn